Convenience

Upon the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam was to take the throne. Jeroboam had been called out of Egypt (he had gone there to escape the death threats of Solomon) and was present (and speaking for) Israel when they went to Sheckem to witness the crowning of Rehoboam. The people of Israel were weary of Solomon’s forced labor and asked Rehoboam to lighten the load of forced labor. Rehoboam took counsel from the elders as well as from his young counselors (contemporaries). The elders advised agreeing to lighten the load to develop trust. The young counselors advised him to increase the load of the people. The king did not listen to the people, showing pride instead of humility.
The people (Israel) then rebelled, turning against the line of David. They went to their homes and refused to be ruled by a descendant of David. Rehoboam continued to rule over the sons of Israel who lived in Judah. He sent Adoram (minister of labor) to them and they stoned him to death.  Israel (10 northern tribes) made Jeroboam king over Israel.  There is both a human and divine side of this. The Human side: Rehoboam did not walk in the ways of God. He did not seek the wisdom and counsel of the Lord. The divine side: God’s withholding of wisdom from Rehoboam became a judgment on the house of David for Solomon’s idolatry.  The Lord gave him what he wanted.

Jeroboam saw a threat to his reign- If the people of his kingdom (Israel, north) would go to Jerusalem (in Judah, south) to offer sacrifices and worship, their hearts would return to Rehoboam. Following the counsel of his own heart, he made golden calves and encouraged Israel to worship the calves. He made things convenient for the people of Israel.  He made priests of people not of the tribe of Levi (he allowed people to lead worship who were called by man, not by God).  He also set up a competing feast.  He followed the devices of his own heart and led Israel with him. He corrupted Israel’s understanding of prayer, worship, sacrifice, and their view of God.

I often seek to worship out of convenience. I often seek the counsel of my contemporaries instead of the counsel of God. God frequently gives me what I want, even if it is not what He wants. This corrupts my understanding of worship and my view of God. But it does not corrupt His view of me. I pray that I understand the lessons He is teaching me when He lets me have what I want, and then contrasts it with what He wants so that I may turn back to Him. 

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